Obesity and Plastic Surgery Candidacy

An upcoming study in the May issue of“Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery” (one of the leading cosmetic surgery research journals) tracked 48,000 plastic surgery candidates throughout the surgical process. The study found that obese patients having plastic surgery had 35% more hospital visits and complications than their non-obese counterparts within 30 days after surgery, and a frightening 72% higher risk of serious adverse events.

These adverse events not only put the patient’s health in danger but also it affected their wallets as well. Some patients saw as much as $7000 or more in increased costs compared to those not suffering from obesity, and most of those costs were associated with hospitalizations and health complications.

Why Are the Obese at Risk for Plastic Surgery Complications?

Cosmetic surgery is known to be very safe. But obesity itself has often comes with comorbid issues, including:

Diabetes

Heart Disease

Peripheral Vascular Disease

Mental Health Issues and More

Obesity can also affect the body in many unknown ways, with the weight of the body affecting its ability to heal, or potential problems with the patient’s immune system. Depending on the type of surgery, the changes to the body may also be too dramatic for the body to handle.

What is the Advice for Those Suffering From Obesity?

Plastic surgery is still the most effective way to get the body you want. But it should ideally still be seen as a tool that you use in conjunction with traditional weight management and exercise. The best time to use plastic surgery is after you are already on your way towards your ideal body weight, and you need the cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin or very difficult to target fat pockets. Plastic surgery should not be a shortcut for obesity. Rather, it should be a complementary practice to other diet, exercise, and medical weight loss techniques.